Staff Reports
In a startling turn of events at a Pennsylvania rally, a local law enforcement officer reportedly came face to face with the shooter just moments before the assailant opened fire on former President Donald Trump. Identified as Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania by the FBI, the shooter was positioned in a nearby building with a clear line of sight to the former president.
According to two law enforcement officials speaking to the Associated Press on the condition of anonymity due to the ongoing investigation, the officer encountered Crooks on the rooftop before quickly descending the ladder as the shooter took aim at Trump. The Washington Post had initially reported that Butler County Sheriff Michael T. Slupe mentioned a municipal police officer’s interaction with the gunman just seconds before the shots were fired. Still, the sheriff later clarified that he never made such a statement.
NEW DETAILS TRUMP ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION Butler Co. Sheriff confirms an armed municipal officer w/ Butler Twp. encountered shooter Thomas Crooks before the shooting. This officer & others were previously alerted to a suspicious person and began searching for him @KDKA @CBSNews pic.twitter.com/lzG5q3Lgph
— Jennifer Borrasso (@JenBorrasso) July 14, 2024
Sheriff Slupe explained that he could not have known the exact timing of the encounter and emphasized that the officer, while attempting to reach the rooftop, wisely disengaged upon seeing the shooter turning towards him. Trump himself later disclosed that he had been grazed by a bullet on the upper part of his right ear during the assassination attempt.
The incident underscores the swift and decisive actions required of law enforcement officers in facing such grave threats to public figures and the importance of maintaining situational awareness in high-stress situations. The bravery and professionalism demonstrated by the officer in confronting the shooter serve as a testament to the dedication of those who put themselves in harm’s way to protect others.
